Gerry RHi Melvyn,
The little information I have on the 1940s Luftwaffe raids in the area you specify, may help or hinder your query, mainly because our two dates conflict, mine is for the 8 October 1940, I wlll offer what I have here anyway, but my intention is not to confuse!.
The Holbrook A/A defence battery (halfway between Gosport and Fareham), fired two rounds at a Heinkel HE111 (glazed nose), flying at a height of 200ft at 1851hrs. Between the hours of 2210 and 2240 the same battery fired 16 rounds at JU88 flying at 5000ft, the direction of flight of the aircraft in both these incidents was not given.
Best regards, Gerry
Gerry RHi Nick,
Thanks for your post, I was going to reply sooner but had internet access problems, and has now been sorted.
I accept your point, but the Soviet Bear threat is not as great as during the height of the Cold War. On the other hand Lossiemouth is a long way from Scotlands central belt, which increases the transit time, something that Leuchars is more suited for QRA purposes. This fact was argued for by RAF chiefs in and effort to keep the status quo at the Fife base. This good advice being ignored by the present Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond, and his predecessor Liam Fox.
Leuchars has two runways, although admittedly, 04/22 is much shorter, 4,803ft (1,464m), unless I am mistaken this runway is still operational. Any blockage of the main runway would hopefully only be temporary, Edinburgh airport is the alternative for any such situation, and still is.
Referring back to the subject of future air shows at Leuchars, my personal view is they could happen, taking into consideration that it will still be a diversion airfield. The former RAF Abingdon would be a good example to follow, (with no based aircraft), it has an air show annually in May, with participating aircraft flying in and a small static display,-maybe a future scenario for Leuchars on a grander scale?.
My view is influenced, and maybe a little bias too, by the fact that I am only 45 minutes away from RAF Leuchars, a Premier fighter base for almost 90 years, sadly, a title it is soon to relinquish:apologetic:.
Regards, Gerry R.
Gerry RSorry about that, the figures should read £85 million and £13 million respectively.
Gerry R
Gerry RA possibility of Leuchars annual air show continuing?
As reported in the Courier newspaper (post 10), there is a possiblilty of the September annual air show continuning.
Latest rumours on the controversial move of the Typhoons to Lossiemouth is that the first Sqn will depart north at the end of this year with the second moving in August 2014, this might allow scope for a 2014 air show. Associated with this situation is that RAF Leuchars will be a diversionary airfield after 2014, remaining active with the necessary ground equipment and essential services still available, the airfield will not have to be re-activated for any air shows after 2014, (if they happen):eagerness:.
Additionally, in recent released Pairliamentary figures, the estimated cost of all Typhoon-related works at RAF Lossiemouth is �85 million, this includes moving two Typhoon sqns from RAF Leuchars. Move of personnel, equipment, and communitcations plus information systems from Leuchars to Lossiemouth is a further �13 million.
Gerry R
Gerry RHi Jay,
The Qatar 787 A7 BCK was in the BA hangar on the 12th, as it was still officially grounded, it had a going over by BA engineers to familiarise themselves with the type, in anticipation of receiving their own 787s (whenever that will be). BCK was towed round to the engine run up bay later in the afternoon, I believe it departed for Qatar on Sunday with just the two flight crew on board.
Gerry R
Gerry RCould this revive the annual airshow that used to be?
This is good news, there has not been an aviation event at Prestwick for some considerable time, far too long. If this years celebration is a prelude to a revival of the annual air shows, then even better.
I gather there is already a great line up of Scottish Aviation products, (Pioneers, Jetsreams etc), for the aircraft static display, and what with PIKs magnificent long runway, who knows what additional interesting items might make it to Ayrshire too?:)
Gerry R
Gerry RChina the key?
Monitoring the news networks today, I still think that the Chinese will not allow the ‘Honourable’ Kim Jong Un, to unleash his armed forces on the South. I just don’t think it’s in his interest to do it, within a few hours maybe even sooner, his socialist paradise will be dust.
MSR777, I quite agree with your comments, China is the one country to have major influence over North Korea and the wee boy Kim, they ultimately have the power stop the Stalinist states posturing without firing a shot. After all, China’s global trade will be severely affected, they are now members of UN and would earn respect if they tackled Pyongyang diplomatically.
Lastly I do not think the wee boy rules, it is the old army generals.
Gerry R
Gerry RChina the key?
Monitoring the news networks today, I still think that the Chinese will not allow the ‘Honourable’ Kim Jong Un, to unleash his armed forces on the South. I just don’t think it’s in his interest to do it, within a few hours maybe even sooner, his socialist paradise will be dust.
MSR777, I quite agree with your comments, China is the one country to have major influence over North Korea and the wee boy Kim, they ultimately have the power stop the Stalinist states posturing without firing a shot. After all, China’s global trade will be severely affected, they are now members of UN and would earn respect if they tackled Pyongyang diplomatically.
Lastly I do not think the wee boy rules, it is the old army generals.
Gerry R
Gerry RThanks Phil for that info, not common knowledge and certainly new to me, so in effect there will still be an RAF presence to look after the Grobs:confused:.
Just yesterday Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond commented on the QRA Typhoon force to be based at RAF Lossiemouth as, and I quote: ” a perfectly acceptable option”. The decision to move the Typhoon north was made by the previous DS Liam Fox, I was hoping this fella Hammond would have listened to the Defence Chiefs and reversed that ludicrous decision when he took over from Fox. It all boils down to a constituency MP up north would have been left with two empty airfields Kinloss and Lossiemouth, within his area, and is definely of a political nature rather than common sense.
The Typhoons will start a phased withdrawal from Leuchars at the end of this year, there is still a remote situation that an air show could be held in 2014, but after that the only surviving September Battle of Britain air show would more than likely have transfer to RAF Lossiemouth.
Gerry R
Gerry RLeuchars air show for the next 3 years?
The annual Battle of Britain air show has long been announced as going ahead for 2013, but front page news in todays Courier states that the Leuchars air show could survive for another 2 to 3 years. The article says that the runway will remain operational even after the Army take over the base in the near furture, this has raised speculation that the annual show could continue.
It seems more logical that an air show at Lossiemouth in 2014 would be the outcome, especially as all the Typhoons would have moved north to the Morayshire base by then, an absolutely baffling political decision I might add:mad:, also the fact that there will be no based aircraft at Leuchars. Having said that I wouldn’t mind another three air shows at least at the famous Fife base:).
Best regards, Gerry R.
Gerry RLatest Airfield Enhancements.
The removal of the infamous blue fence and gates, a relic of the equally infamous previous lease holders, is now in progress by Fly BN, easing ground movements.
The work will abolish restrictions on both the western and eastern taxi-ways regarding wing tip clearances, with aircraft no longer having to negotiate these obstacles at an angle. Additionally it is intended that the disused 17/35 runway will be made operational as a taxi-way to provide a two way flow to and from the Sapphire ramp, that company incidently, now having two hangars operational with the recent acquisition of hangar ‘C’ in the southeast corner.
Gerry R
Gerry RAirport Employment
Hi Serj, Some airports have mini job fairs usually at hotels in their locality around about Feb/Mar time, my advice would be to check with your local medium size airport for these events. They recruit for the summer period taking on loaders, ramp agents, baggage hall staff, to name but a few, if you are lucky the companies will take on the good personnel from the not so good to continue on from the that summer period, but be warned, this is not always the case. I wish you luck in your pursuit in the coming months,:) best regards,
Gerry R
Gerry RMartin, your guesses were spot on, many thanks for the links you supplied. I noted the comment on the second link that N99653 was ‘abandoned by its crew at Ostend’, further research should be very interesting;), I will also try to contact the other photographers, thanks again :).
Best regards, Gerry.
Gerry RReinstated Pics
By a mistake on my part, I deleted the pics relating to the above post in April this year, herewith reinstated. Any confusion it may have caused was unintentional and offer my humble apologies for the error.
Two ex RAF Britannia C.1s ended their days in Belgium, OO-YCE ex XL636 ‘Argo’, scrapped Ostend Aug 1980, and 9U-BAD ex XL657 ‘Regel’, at Charleroi Apr 1981. The Liberia World example 9Q-CKG ex XL637 ‘Vega’, was ferried to Goma in Zaire later in 1979 for use as a spares source, and scrapped there in Jan 1992, not as I previously stated at Ostend:rolleyes:.
The F 27 at Kortrijk is traceable, but the two Convairs remain a mystery, but I shall continue my endevours to find out their histories, they seem to be ex US military (C 131Bs)?
Best regards, Gerry R:)
Gerry RFleetlands January 1979
Seasons greetings to all
Gerry R
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